By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Kentucky has hired its third offensive coordinator in four years.
Eddie Gran was chosen to replace Shannon Dawson Tuesday and will serve as assistant head coach of the offense, offensive coordinator and running backs coach. Gran spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati.
“I’m very excited to be at Kentucky,” Gran said in a university release. “I had the opportunity at Florida State to work three years with coach Stoops, and No. 1, it’s his passion for football and what he stands for – family. I really got know Chantel and the kids as my kids were able to be with them for three years. All of that matters in this profession and being around great people is important.”
Prior to joining Tommy Tuberville’s Bearcat staff, Gran was running backs and special teams coach at Florida State, where he worked alongside Kentucky coach Mark Stoops.
“Having worked with Eddie at Florida State, he is an outstanding coach with great experience, including a lot of years in the SEC,” Stoops said. “He is a great leader with tremendous passion for the game.”
Prior to coaching stops at Cincinnati and Florida State, Gran also coached at Miami (Florida), Ole Miss, Auburn and Tennessee. Gran has coached at the collegiate level for the past 28 years and brings experience to a UK offense that will rely on Drew Barker, Stanley “Boom” Williams and a variety of young receivers.
Gran is excited to be in the Southeastern Conference again and is looking forward to “the challenges.”
“It’s a great conference,” Gran said. “It’s the best conference in America and if you’re a college football coach this is the level you want to be coaching. I spent 15 years in the SEC and being in those stadiums and the defenses you will be facing, it’s what you want if you’re a competitor and if you want to play against the best.”
Current running backs coach Chad Scott is expected to take over as coach of the wide receivers.
Hinshaw follows Gran
Hinshaw, who also comes from Cincinnati, will serve as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
While at Cincinnati, Hinshaw served as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“Darin has a great offensive mind and his experience includes time in the Southeastern Conference,” Stoops said. “I’ve been impressed with how well they’ve produced at Cincinnati and how prolific they have been in throwing the football.”
Like Gran, Hinshaw is looking forward to coaching in the SEC again. Hinshaw has also coached at Tennessee, Memphis, Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee and Central Florida.
“This is a great opportunity to be back in the SEC and I’m really looking forward to it,” Hinshaw said. “I’ve always looked at Kentucky as a program that has the potential to be very, very good and we can put up the points and yards that will equal wins and help get us to bowl games. That’s why I’m taking this opportunity. I’m very excited to be back in the SEC and be a part of Kentucky and the Big Blue Nation.”
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports writer who covers University of Kentucky athletics for KyForward.com